In Today’s Newsletter:
New Week – New Arrivals
Spain Edition
Trending
Staff Pick
Super New Tuscan Reviews
From Decanter Magazine
New Grapelive Review
Subscriber Special Recap:
2016 Marcus Molitor
New Week – New Arrivals
Spain Edition
Spain offers a huge variety of wines and styles. Check out three new arrivals from three of our favorite producers. The Torello Mata Reserva Cava is a mainstay, and the 2016 is a fantastically elegant and crisp sparkler. Bernabeleva is back with a Beaujolais-killer, providing Spain can craft lighter-bodied reds that are perfect for the patio. The Jorge Ordonez is a winner for lovers of big, bold reds. You’ll want a case or two for BBQs all summer long.
Agusti Torello Mata Brut Reserva Cava, Catalonia 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer note “A blend of 48% Macabeu, 33% Parellada and 19% Xarel-lo, the vintage-dated 2016 Brut Reserva was disgorged in January of 2019, having spent three years on the lees. The resulting wine is an excellent example of what Cava can be. The nose is clean and fruity with hints of apple, caramel and fresh herbs. The palate is elegant and balanced with well-integrated bubbles and excellent balance. Four grams dosage, 5.9 acidity and only 11.5% alcohol. Yum!”
Agusti Torello Mata Brut Reserva Cava, Catalonia 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer note “A blend of 48% Macabeu, 33% Parellada and 19% Xarel-lo, the vintage-dated 2016 Brut Reserva was disgorged in January of 2019, having spent three years on the lees. The resulting wine is an excellent example of what Cava can be. The nose is clean and fruity with hints of apple, caramel and fresh herbs. The palate is elegant and balanced with well-integrated bubbles and excellent balance. Four grams dosage, 5.9 acidity and only 11.5% alcohol. Yum!”
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Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tortolas, Madrid 2017 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The pale and aromatic 2017 Arroyo del Tórtolas has a herbal twist perhaps because of the hurried ripening of the grapes in a very warm year. At the same time, it has contained alcohol, and with the benefit of one extra year in bottle, the nose is fully open, expressive and approachable. It is medium-bodied and fresh, with fine tannins, and is lighter than the 2018 but beautiful to drink now. Delicious. 2,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $41
Jorge Ordonez Triton Tinta de Toro 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The larger production cuvée from Ordonez, the 2016 Tinta de Toro Tritón (100% Tinta de Toro) comes all from very old, ungrafted vineyards and was brought up mostly in used barrels. This beautifully sexy red boasts smoking good notes of ripe plums, black cherries, liquid violets, and loads of scrub brush and dried earth. Full-bodied and silky on the palate, with fine, fine tannin, it has remarkable purity, no hard edges, and enough structure to warrant another year in bottle. It’s a seriously impressive wine.”
James Suckling 92 points “Plenty of bright and attractive fruit on the nose with summer berry compote and complementary meaty and spicy oak. The palate has attractive plush sweet fruit presence in an easy-drinking mode. Drink now.”
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Trending
An incredible value from a rising star of Oregon. Arrives Friday. And don’t miss our case deals from Cameron, Cristom, Goodfellow or Biggio Hamina!
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 pre-arrival special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
Winery Note “Momtazi Vineyard is a certified biodynamic site nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range, composed primarily of uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with alluvial overlays and an underlying base of basalt. One of the revered vineyards in Willamette, this is our cornerstone source for Pinot noir. We are always thrilled to work with this fruit, as it’s some of the most coveted in in the Valley. Many people wish they could get their hands on it, and we’re fortunate that we do. Easily our most intense and deeply fruited Pinot noir, the wine displays hallmark Momtazi notes of black cherry and black raspberry, both on the nose and on the palate. Additional notes of sandalwood spice and forest floor emerge with air, giving a glimpse at the complexity to come. It’s a moody, broody teenager at present, which is no surprise given the vineyard’s reputation for structure. The tannins are suave but sturdy, and the well-integrated acidity holds everything together seamlessly in an enchanting marriage of power and finesse. As flagship wines go, the 2016 Momtazi is a worthy standard-bearer.”
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 pre-arrival special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
Winery Note “Momtazi Vineyard is a certified biodynamic site nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range, composed primarily of uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with alluvial overlays and an underlying base of basalt. One of the revered vineyards in Willamette, this is our cornerstone source for Pinot noir. We are always thrilled to work with this fruit, as it’s some of the most coveted in in the Valley. Many people wish they could get their hands on it, and we’re fortunate that we do. Easily our most intense and deeply fruited Pinot noir, the wine displays hallmark Momtazi notes of black cherry and black raspberry, both on the nose and on the palate. Additional notes of sandalwood spice and forest floor emerge with air, giving a glimpse at the complexity to come. It’s a moody, broody teenager at present, which is no surprise given the vineyard’s reputation for structure. The tannins are suave but sturdy, and the well-integrated acidity holds everything together seamlessly in an enchanting marriage of power and finesse. As flagship wines go, the 2016 Momtazi is a worthy standard-bearer.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.50
The Vintage wine, made from Chardonnay from Cuis, Epernay and Cramant, is richly textured with generous orchard fruit notes that’s drinking beautifully now.
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime, Champagne 2011 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2011 vintage. 2010 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 92 points “This elegant blanc de blancs shows a pleasing vibrancy from the lively bead and bright acidity, both well-meshed to pretty floral and spice accents and flavors of Gala apple, biscuit and lemon zest. Creamy. Drink now through 2025. 16 cases imported.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for any vintage!
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2019 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Grapelive 93 points “My Summer has definitely taken a Spanish turn and I’m perfectly okay with that,
especially when sipping on the fresh and zippy Ameztoi Rubentis Rosé from the Basque region not far from San Sebastian, which is one of the world’s most unique and exciting pink wines and one of my favorites along with Clos Cibonne and of course Domaine Tempier, these are wines that really capture the season in the glass. This vintage is ultra zesty and refreshing with a pop of spritz and tart layers of red citrus, strawberry, distilled raspberry essence, wet stone, saline and delicate floral tones all in an incredible light and steely form that begs to be quaffed. The iconic Rubentis Getariako Txakolina Rosé, as noted in my prior reviews, was the region’s first pink wine, made from native grapes, both red and white, it is naturally fermented in refrigerated stainless steel tanks utilizing indigenous yeasts from the vineyard. The tanks are closed to preserve natural carbonation from fermentation, which is the preferred style of Getaria. The fermentation tanks, according to importer De Maison Selections, are kept chilled to near 32 degrees Fahrenheit before bottling, which preserves the wine’s delicate, effervescent character and signature electric (spritzy) mousse. Ameztoi does a fantastic lineup of Txakolina wines, White, Red, this thrilling Rosé and a true and seriously rare Champagne style cork finished Rosé as well, all are must try wines from this remote Atlantic influenced region. This Ameztoi Rubentis Rosé is a hyper addictive wine that I will glad push on anyone that is in search of the dry pink high…. This is a wine, as I’ve said before, that proves a wine doesn’t have to be heavy or dense to have a serious impact on the palate, and it delivers a wonderful performance that leaves you always wanting more.”
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Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Laurel is a blend of the younger vines, some barrels that were declassified from Clos Erasmus and the remaining Cabernet Sauvignon, and in the low-yielding and dry 2017 vintage, it’s 70% Garnacha, 20% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 15% alcohol. The wine fermented mostly in concrete and oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in a combination of oak vats, concrete, used barriques and amphorae for 16 months. They produce this to be approachable from the moment it’s released. The 2017s feel very aromatic, open, expressive and young, quite primary, tender and juicy and surprisingly fresh for a dry, warm year that resulted in a very early harvest. There is a peachy, soft, approachable quality here that I like very much. Surprisingly enough, winemaker and proprietor Daphne Glorian sees reminiscences of the 2013s in the 2017s, and I have to agree. Different from 2016, but at the same quality level. 19,126 bottles were filled in May 2019.-Luis Gutierrez”
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Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $57
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
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Staff Pick
Andy:
I cannot recommend this wine enough. Old vines on brutal granite soils add amazing texture and life to what might otherwise seem like a simple white table wine. I love Loire whites, Muscadet in particular, for the intense mineral quality that matches so perfectly with the fresh seafood from the nearby Atlantic. While somewhat overindulgent, the classic seafood tower with a bottle or two of good Muscadet is hard to beat.
The intense mineral quality comes from the beautiful compact granite making up the subsoil and the 55+ year old vines really work to pull out the full ripeness and aromatic qualities I love. Much of the area is raised seafloor and the salinity is ever present which plays perfectly with citrus and light herb aromas. In vintages like 2017 there is a concentration to the flavors but it is in perfect harmony to the bracing acidity. In an extremely warm vintage like 2015 you’ll find more roundness, but I think the harmony of the 17 is the perfect showcase for Melon. I’ve said before that this wine is a Chablis killer – paying $26 for a white wine that could age beautifully for 20 years is a bargain at any time. You can tuck a case away and drink these forever.
In Stock Now:
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson, Loire 2017 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Melon de Bourgogne. The heart of Marc Ollivier’s estate is a 10-hectare plot near home in the Clisson cru; 8 hectares of it go into this bottling, while 2 hectares are used for the entry-level Sur Lie. Its distinguishing feature is the soil type, called granite de Clisson, which is a particularly poor, hard, compact granite with little clay and a lot of quartz and mica over hard granite mother rock. The Pépière vines range from 50-110 years old and are organically farmed and harvested and worked by hand. As with the rest of the Pepière wines, the fruit is direct-pressed in whole clusters and the juice settled naturally for 12 hours. It is then fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts; the wine is aged on its lees for 2 years in large underground vats until being bottled without fining or filtering. Marc bottled this wine years before the cru was made official under the label “Granite de Clisson”. After the declaration of the cru, he had to drop the “granite” part and as well as the “sur lie” (the latter being true for all cru-designated wines even though they are lees-aged).”
I cannot recommend this wine enough. Old vines on brutal granite soils add amazing texture and life to what might otherwise seem like a simple white table wine. I love Loire whites, Muscadet in particular, for the intense mineral quality that matches so perfectly with the fresh seafood from the nearby Atlantic. While somewhat overindulgent, the classic seafood tower with a bottle or two of good Muscadet is hard to beat.
The intense mineral quality comes from the beautiful compact granite making up the subsoil and the 55+ year old vines really work to pull out the full ripeness and aromatic qualities I love. Much of the area is raised seafloor and the salinity is ever present which plays perfectly with citrus and light herb aromas. In vintages like 2017 there is a concentration to the flavors but it is in perfect harmony to the bracing acidity. In an extremely warm vintage like 2015 you’ll find more roundness, but I think the harmony of the 17 is the perfect showcase for Melon. I’ve said before that this wine is a Chablis killer – paying $26 for a white wine that could age beautifully for 20 years is a bargain at any time. You can tuck a case away and drink these forever.
In Stock Now:
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson, Loire 2017 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Melon de Bourgogne. The heart of Marc Ollivier’s estate is a 10-hectare plot near home in the Clisson cru; 8 hectares of it go into this bottling, while 2 hectares are used for the entry-level Sur Lie. Its distinguishing feature is the soil type, called granite de Clisson, which is a particularly poor, hard, compact granite with little clay and a lot of quartz and mica over hard granite mother rock. The Pépière vines range from 50-110 years old and are organically farmed and harvested and worked by hand. As with the rest of the Pepière wines, the fruit is direct-pressed in whole clusters and the juice settled naturally for 12 hours. It is then fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts; the wine is aged on its lees for 2 years in large underground vats until being bottled without fining or filtering. Marc bottled this wine years before the cru was made official under the label “Granite de Clisson”. After the declaration of the cru, he had to drop the “granite” part and as well as the “sur lie” (the latter being true for all cru-designated wines even though they are lees-aged).”
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The average price nationally is $30
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
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(If another adult is picking up for you,
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503-223-6002
Super New Tuscan Reviews
From Decanter Magazine
“Above all, the territory shone through. The Cabernets and Merlot take on not just a Tuscan personality, but one that speaks specifically to Chianti Classico – though Merlot struggles most obviously in the hottest vintages. Nonetheless, the majority of my top wines were those based on Sangiovese. This grape offers a sharply focused lens on the specific and diverse terroir that these magnificent hills have to offer.” Michaela Morris, Decanter Magazine
Newly Reviewed:
Stylistically, Isole e Olena occupies a place that is at once traditional and modern. Their top wine, Cepparello, is one of the true icons of Tuscany. 100% Sangiovese, it lives up to the standards of wines like Le Pergole Torte and Altesino Montosoli at significantly less per bottle.
Isole e Olena Cepparello, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Isole e Olena Cepparello, Toscana IGT 2016 1.5L ($219.95) $199 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Decanter 98 points “Paolo de Marchi’s ‘study in Sangiovese’ is a selection of the vintage’s finest grapes from Isole e Olena’s oldest vineyards, high up in Chianti Classico’s western sector of Barberino Tavarnelle. Harvested in mid-October, it is a captivating tangle of earth, spring blossom, coffee, tobacco and cedar. Perfumed lavender and violet lift the generous dark fruit and the brilliantly tactile powdery texture lends further dimension. This reaches great depths while simultaneously soaring effortlessly to heady heights. Positively succulent and moreish on the finish.”
Arriving ETA August
Fontodi, Flaccianello della Pieve, Colli della Toscana Centrale 2017 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Fontodi, Flaccianello della Pieve, Colli della Toscana Centrale 2017 750ML ($1199.95) $999 pre-arrival special (that’s only $166.50/bottle!)
Decanter 94 points “A selection of the best grapes from Fontodi’s highest altitude parcels in Panzano’s Conca d’Oro. Manetti maintains that the spring frost helped lighten the vines’ load, allowing the remaining grapes to continue ripening even during torrid conditions. Macerated cherry and blackberry compote are nuanced by dried thyme and grilled fennel. New wood adds hints of vanilla and spice box. The palate is robust and firm, though the tannins are refined and tangy acidity brightens the whole. An excellent showing from this challenging year. Needs time.”
Newly Reviewed:
Stylistically, Isole e Olena occupies a place that is at once traditional and modern. Their top wine, Cepparello, is one of the true icons of Tuscany. 100% Sangiovese, it lives up to the standards of wines like Le Pergole Torte and Altesino Montosoli at significantly less per bottle.
Isole e Olena Cepparello, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Isole e Olena Cepparello, Toscana IGT 2016 1.5L ($219.95) $199 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Decanter 98 points “Paolo de Marchi’s ‘study in Sangiovese’ is a selection of the vintage’s finest grapes from Isole e Olena’s oldest vineyards, high up in Chianti Classico’s western sector of Barberino Tavarnelle. Harvested in mid-October, it is a captivating tangle of earth, spring blossom, coffee, tobacco and cedar. Perfumed lavender and violet lift the generous dark fruit and the brilliantly tactile powdery texture lends further dimension. This reaches great depths while simultaneously soaring effortlessly to heady heights. Positively succulent and moreish on the finish.”
Arriving ETA August
Fontodi, Flaccianello della Pieve, Colli della Toscana Centrale 2017 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Fontodi, Flaccianello della Pieve, Colli della Toscana Centrale 2017 750ML ($1199.95) $999 pre-arrival special (that’s only $166.50/bottle!)
Decanter 94 points “A selection of the best grapes from Fontodi’s highest altitude parcels in Panzano’s Conca d’Oro. Manetti maintains that the spring frost helped lighten the vines’ load, allowing the remaining grapes to continue ripening even during torrid conditions. Macerated cherry and blackberry compote are nuanced by dried thyme and grilled fennel. New wood adds hints of vanilla and spice box. The palate is robust and firm, though the tannins are refined and tangy acidity brightens the whole. An excellent showing from this challenging year. Needs time.”
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We offer 137 Tuscan wines in stock now.
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New Grapelive Review
G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 91 points “The jet black and purple hued Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore is a full bodied and luxurious wine. [Its] with ultra-supple tannin and creamy length highlights the warmth of the vintage in 2017 and makes for an exotic version of this wine with crushed blackberries, sweet plum, fig and black cherry pie filling fruits coming through on the smooth and gracious palate. At first big and fruit forward, this 2017 adds some depth and savory tones once the air kicks in and after 20 minutes in gains wonderful complexity and completes the transition into a much more serious and balanced wine with hints of mineral, anise, crushed violets and a mix of spice and herbs all putting in appearances. The acidity emerges to brighten things up. This change in the glass make this beautiful wine even more compelling. Vajra, taking what nature gave, masterfully guided this Barbera to bottle and spotlighted the best features of the year, the terroir and the grape, again proving they are one of the best wineries in the region. The sites Vajra uses for their Barbera Superiore, 100% Barbera, are at higher elevation, set on marl and sand and late ripening with as the winery note have very thick skins which require extra time on the vine to fully develop their character. [It] comes from old vines, some dating back to 1949, with low yielding estate vineyards from Bricco delle Viole, a great Barolo Cru and Bricco Bertone providing the grapes. Made from carefully sorted and 100% de-stemmed grapes fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel vats with a rather long 30 to 40 days maceration, then this Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore saw up to two years in large Slavonian oak casks prior to release, plus, Vajra rests it a few more months in bottle to make sure the wine is fully integrated at release. This is an opulent edition of this wine and it deserves center piece attention at the table with extra care to get the best out of it, which should include some hearty country style cuisine. It is well suited for lamb, grilled meats and or sausages. This 2017 took a while to get going, but once fully awake it delivered a fine performance with a range of dark flavors and delicate earthy notes with just a touch of cedary wood influence. There is so much to admire in Vajra’s collection, especially with their gorgeous Barolo offerings, it sometimes is easy to overlook their Barbera and Dolcetto bottlings, but they should not be missed…”
Don’t miss the 2016 Barolos from GD Vajra, Arriving in August:
“For many growers, the 2016s are not just epic, they are career-defining wines” – Antonio Galloni
Vajra remains one of our favorite producers in the Piedmont. From top to bottom, the wines are excellent and they’re a real reference point that others are judged against. The estate has always been good, but seems to have reached another level over the last decade. There’s a reason the cru bottlings all scored in the mid to high 90’s from Antonio Galloni–these are profound wines.
“The Vaira family has turned out a magnificent set of Barolos at both their own winery and at Baudana. Harvest wrapped up on October 22, very late by present day standards, and ideal for wines that emphasize purity of fruit. As always, the Barolos are all about finesse and nuance, very much like an artists’ pencil etchings, where all the lines are totally delineated. At Baudana, the wines are naturally more muscular, but that is Serralunga, after all. Most importantly, the Vairas have developed a personal style that melds classicisim with a level of approachability that makes these wines so alluring, even upon release.” –Antonio Galloni
Arriving in August:
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is plump, juicy and forward – all qualities that make it one of the more approachable wines in the Vajra range. Plump dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice and menthol all flesh out in a racy, juicy Barolo that will drink well right out of the gate. Plush fruit and silky tannins add to the wine’s voluptuous feel and early accessibility. This is very good, but it is not particularly complex.”
Grapelive 91 points “The jet black and purple hued Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore is a full bodied and luxurious wine. [Its] with ultra-supple tannin and creamy length highlights the warmth of the vintage in 2017 and makes for an exotic version of this wine with crushed blackberries, sweet plum, fig and black cherry pie filling fruits coming through on the smooth and gracious palate. At first big and fruit forward, this 2017 adds some depth and savory tones once the air kicks in and after 20 minutes in gains wonderful complexity and completes the transition into a much more serious and balanced wine with hints of mineral, anise, crushed violets and a mix of spice and herbs all putting in appearances. The acidity emerges to brighten things up. This change in the glass make this beautiful wine even more compelling. Vajra, taking what nature gave, masterfully guided this Barbera to bottle and spotlighted the best features of the year, the terroir and the grape, again proving they are one of the best wineries in the region. The sites Vajra uses for their Barbera Superiore, 100% Barbera, are at higher elevation, set on marl and sand and late ripening with as the winery note have very thick skins which require extra time on the vine to fully develop their character. [It] comes from old vines, some dating back to 1949, with low yielding estate vineyards from Bricco delle Viole, a great Barolo Cru and Bricco Bertone providing the grapes. Made from carefully sorted and 100% de-stemmed grapes fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel vats with a rather long 30 to 40 days maceration, then this Barbera d’Alba DOC Superiore saw up to two years in large Slavonian oak casks prior to release, plus, Vajra rests it a few more months in bottle to make sure the wine is fully integrated at release. This is an opulent edition of this wine and it deserves center piece attention at the table with extra care to get the best out of it, which should include some hearty country style cuisine. It is well suited for lamb, grilled meats and or sausages. This 2017 took a while to get going, but once fully awake it delivered a fine performance with a range of dark flavors and delicate earthy notes with just a touch of cedary wood influence. There is so much to admire in Vajra’s collection, especially with their gorgeous Barolo offerings, it sometimes is easy to overlook their Barbera and Dolcetto bottlings, but they should not be missed…”
Don’t miss the 2016 Barolos from GD Vajra, Arriving in August:
“For many growers, the 2016s are not just epic, they are career-defining wines” – Antonio Galloni
Vajra remains one of our favorite producers in the Piedmont. From top to bottom, the wines are excellent and they’re a real reference point that others are judged against. The estate has always been good, but seems to have reached another level over the last decade. There’s a reason the cru bottlings all scored in the mid to high 90’s from Antonio Galloni–these are profound wines.
“The Vaira family has turned out a magnificent set of Barolos at both their own winery and at Baudana. Harvest wrapped up on October 22, very late by present day standards, and ideal for wines that emphasize purity of fruit. As always, the Barolos are all about finesse and nuance, very much like an artists’ pencil etchings, where all the lines are totally delineated. At Baudana, the wines are naturally more muscular, but that is Serralunga, after all. Most importantly, the Vairas have developed a personal style that melds classicisim with a level of approachability that makes these wines so alluring, even upon release.” –Antonio Galloni
Arriving in August:
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is plump, juicy and forward – all qualities that make it one of the more approachable wines in the Vajra range. Plump dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice and menthol all flesh out in a racy, juicy Barolo that will drink well right out of the gate. Plush fruit and silky tannins add to the wine’s voluptuous feel and early accessibility. This is very good, but it is not particularly complex.”
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G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is going to need a few years to emerge, but it has all the qualities to develop into a truly special wine. Dark red/purplish fruit, hard candy, mint, lavender and sweet spice give the 2016 striking inner perfume. On the palate, the 2016 is a tightly wound, classically austere Barolo that will especially delight readers with traditionally leaning palates. In this late-ripening vintage, there is a great balance of structure, aromatics and mid-palate sweetness. I absolutely loved it.”
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2016 Barolo Ravera is tough as nails today, but it has striking inner sweetness and remarkable persistence. Even so, readers will have to exercise a great deal of patience, as the 2016 is not likely to offer much in the way of pleasure for a number of years. Bright red cherry, mint, white pepper, blood orange and dried flowers give the 2016 brilliant top notes to match its finely sculpted feel. Veins of acidy and tannin add razor-sharp precision throughout. I can’t wait to taste this in another few years’ time.”
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Subscriber Special Recap
2016 Marcus Molitor
There may be no more ambitious winemaker in the world than Marcus Molitor. His determination and drive to make the best possible wines has made him a towering figure in the Mosel, with an impressive, modern winery and holdings in almost every important vineyard in the region. This drive also means there are a lot of different bottlings—Molitor believes that every single sub-parcel and selective pick should be vinified to its utmost potential.
This is the essence of the brilliance of Marcus Molitor. Most winemakers would pick once or twice (or three times) in a vineyard and vinify many lots together—it’s easier and the wines are good. Molitor, though, asks what each parcel and pick would be like on its own—treated as if it were a wine of distinction rather than a blending component. This is a lot of extra work and requires time and space that most winemakers would rather not spend, but the result is a dizzying number of bottlings that all strive toward perfection.
The critical praise backs this up—Marcus Molitor’s wines are some of the most lauded in the world. Whether white capsule (dry), green capsule (off-dry), or gold capsule (fruity to nobly sweet), he manages to produce wines that captivate and astound. 2016 is among the best vintages he’s produced—better across the board than the lauded 15’s. We’re offering a Subscriber Special on the ’16’s until we open for business on Friday, so now’s your chance to stock up.
This is the essence of the brilliance of Marcus Molitor. Most winemakers would pick once or twice (or three times) in a vineyard and vinify many lots together—it’s easier and the wines are good. Molitor, though, asks what each parcel and pick would be like on its own—treated as if it were a wine of distinction rather than a blending component. This is a lot of extra work and requires time and space that most winemakers would rather not spend, but the result is a dizzying number of bottlings that all strive toward perfection.
The critical praise backs this up—Marcus Molitor’s wines are some of the most lauded in the world. Whether white capsule (dry), green capsule (off-dry), or gold capsule (fruity to nobly sweet), he manages to produce wines that captivate and astound. 2016 is among the best vintages he’s produced—better across the board than the lauded 15’s. We’re offering a Subscriber Special on the ’16’s until we open for business on Friday, so now’s your chance to stock up.
5% Off Any 6-11 bottles of 2016 Marcus Molitor Wines
10% Off Any 12+ bottles of 2016 Marcus Molitor Wines
Offer Ends Friday July 31st at 10AM PT
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
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